9 Moisturizer Mistakes You're Making

Using moisturizer seems simple enough: Buy one and rub it on. If only! It turns out there are lots of missteps you may be making when it comes to hydrating your skin. Read on and find out how to make the most of this important skin-care step. (Look more radiant than ever—and lose up to 25 pounds in 2 months with Prevention's new Younger in 8 Weeks plan!)

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You apply it to dry skin.

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For maximum impact, you want your lotion to lock in moisture before it evaporates, says Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. After cleansing, pat skin dry—don't rub, she advises. "You shouldn't see drops," she says, but your face should still be slightly damp when you reach for the bottle of moisturizer. (Try The Rain Facial Cleanser for washing your face.)

You only use it sporadically.

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At least once daily is crucial to control dryness. To understand why, think of skin as a brick wall, with the cells being the bricks and a matrix of lipids (fatty materials) being the mortar that surrounds them. It's a cozy set-up, but plenty of things can disrupt it, including cold weather, hot water, and harsh products. Aging plays a role too, since your supply of lipids dwindles significantly as you get older. Once the mortar is compromised, the skin loses its function as a barrier to water loss and becomes dry. "Moisturizer strengthens the mortar, so less moisture gets out and you're better able to maintain hydration," explains Gohara.

Sloughing away the surface layer of cells allows moisturizer to really sink into your skin. Concentrate on your face as well as trouble spots below the neck, such as your elbows, knees, and feet—the skin here has minimal oil glands and can thicken due to friction. Keep in mind that you're polishing a delicate surface, not scrubbing the tub: A gentle buffing once or twice a week with a soft washcloth or cleansing brush should suffice in the winter, says Gohara. (Here are 3 natural recipes for glowing skin.)

You skip it because you have acne.

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Moisturization is particularly important if you're pimple-prone, since most acne treatments are drying and many won't work as well on parched skin. If you're concerned that moisturizers contain oils that can clog pores and trigger breakouts, opt for a hydrating serum, advises Gohara. "Serums are highly concentrated but light, and because many are water-based, they won't break you out."

You lay it on too thick.

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If you have to really glob on moisturizer for your foundation to sit smoothly, then it's time to trade up to a product that delivers more concentrated hydration. "In the moisturizer lexicon, lotions are the least hydrating, then comes creams, serums, oils, and ointments," Gohara explains. The right option for you is the one that allows you to comfortably layer something, such as makeup, on top of it shortly after application.

You use the same lotion day and night.

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Unless you're using a separate sunscreen, your morning moisturizer should contain an SPF of at least 30. If your skin is less than perfect (and whose isn't!), consider a tinted one with SPF, advises NYC dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, in her book Skin Rules. "They make skin look more youthful and glowing." (Use this Night Regenerative Prickly Pear + Vitamin C Balm before going to bed.)

You overpay.

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"There are high-end products I absolutely love, but some drugstore moisturizers do an amazing job, too," says Gohara. Her rule of thumb when browsing the skin-care aisle: Look for ingredients to supplement those found naturally in the skin, such as lipids, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. They're all potent, but hyaluronic acid is a real superhero in the cosmetic world; it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water!

You don't use a separate eye cream.

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Think you can use any face cream around the eyes? "Wrong, wrong, wrong," says Jaliman, who notes the skin in the eye area is very delicate and needs specially formulated products. "Use only creams and serums that say they've been ophthalmologically tested, and by all means avoid those with fragrances, which can irritate skin and cause swelling." Technique matters, too. Pat gently onto the undereye area and just below the brow, but never put any on the eyelid itself, warns Jaliman. "Eyelid skin is so thin that the ingredients can actually penetrate to the eyeball beneath."

Moisturizer can go a long way toward keeping skin soft and smooth, but it's just one part of a good skin-care regimen, says Gohara. Other musts include washing with a gentle cleanser, using lukewarm (not hot) water, and—because UV rays can damage skin's barrier function, paving the way for dryness—applying sunscreen every single day.

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